The Black Cat Breaks a Mirror, by Kay Finch

 

The Black Cat Breaks a Mirror by Kay Finch

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 5 in the series, and probably my favorite so far.

Hitchcock is back! I love Hitchcock, with his ability to show up where and when least expected. Sabrina feels fully fleshed out now, and likeable. And I adore Aunt Rowe, though I feel like this book kind of portrayed her as a bit naive, rather than the smart business woman she is.

The mystery was well written and I ended up reading this in one long reading session, rather than putting it down and going to bed like I should have, haha.

Looking forward to more.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*


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Read or Alive, by Nora Page

Read or Alive by Nora Page
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Book 3 in the series.

I'm sorry to say, I just can't seem to get in to this series. I don't connect with the main character at all. After multiple starts and stops, I finally gave up and put it down for good.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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A Spell for Trouble, by Esme Addison

A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison

My rating: 1.5 of 5 stars, It was okay. Sort of.

Book 1 in a new series.

I had a hard time getting in to this one. For someone in Risk Management, the main character sure took a lot of stupid risks. But the biggest problem with this book was that it was utterly forgettable. I put it down for awhile (there's a love triangle that really turned me off) and forgot all about until I saw it in my NetGalley list.

The premise is a good one, and I will likely look up the next book in the series, in hopes that it's better having established characters. But it will definitely be a library read. And please, resolve the love triangle!

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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A Design to Die For, by Kathleen Bridge

A Design to Die For by Kathleen Bridge 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 5 in the series.

This series just gets better.

The plot was fun and fast moving, though I did find the secondary plot a bit of a distraction (and the character name of the leader of the ghost hunters, could the author have been any more obvious in her choice? Mac Zagan/Zak Bagans? Haha)

The wrap up was a bit of a surprise, though I did rather suspect who the real murderer was before then.

All in all, this is probably my favorite of the series. I honestly didn't want to put it down until the end. I'm looking forward to more Montauk and Meg.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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Nacho Average Murder, by Maddie Day

Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 7 in the series.

I have to be honest, one thing I love about this series is South Lick and Robbie's friends and acquaintances. So the setting of this book in Robbie's old home town just wasn't really where I wanted to be.

Part of that may be my own feelings about class reunions. I don't ever want to go to one, so I don't really get why anyone else would, either, haha. But my main issue with this book was Robbie sticking her nose into the murder of someone that she had met briefly, for the slightest of reasons. It felt a little forced. And Robbie also had a few too stupid to live moments. She at least acknowledges her stupidity, (I hate my cell phone, but I still would never leave it in my vehicle, and I'm not even an amateur sleuth poking my nose in a murder!) so there's that.

Fortunately, we don't have long to wait before Robbie returns to South Lick and Pans N' Pancakes in book 8! (On my TBR list as well, thanks to the publisher and NetGalley).

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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A Sprinkling of Murder, by Daryl Wood Gerber

A Sprinkling of Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay but....

Book 1 in a new series.

Not my favorite by this author. Probably won't read anymore. I like a touch of the paranormal but this one was a bit too much. The whole getting people to talk by having a fairy spell them into it, just reads bad karma to me and... icky.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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Still Knife Painting, by Cheryl Hollon

Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was just okay.

Book 1 in a new series.

This book just wasn't really my cup of 'shine. I couldn't get into the story and ended up skipping large chunks. It still took me ages to get though, because I kept going to read something else. In the end, it was okay, but not anything I will search out in the future.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*


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Murder in a Scottish Shire

 

Murder in a Scottish Shire by Traci Hall 

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was just okay.

Book 1 in a new series.

Sadly, this book just wasn't for me. The setting and storyline had potential, but I found it hard to get into. In was slow moving, and I really had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, which was too bad. I put it down to read other things for a bit and then I ended up skipping to the end about halfway through.

I'm not sure if I would give book 2 a try.


*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

 

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Murder in Waiting, by Lynn Cahoon

Murder in Waiting by Lynn Cahoon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book #11 in the series.

I always love visiting South Cove and this book was no exception. It was a fast, fun read. I love that Jill is so human, faults and all. My favorite part of the entire book was the end. Without spoiling anything, I can just say I love Aunt Jackie.

That said, this book was pretty heavy on Bridezillas and wedding stuff, and the mystery almost feels like an afterthought.

As always, I am looking forward to more from Lynn Cahoon.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*


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Witch Hunt, by Cate Conte

Witch Hunt by Cate Conte

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I didn't like it.

Book 1 in a new series.

I've come to the conclusion that this author is just not for me. Unfinished.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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Crushing It, By Lorelei Parker

Crushing It by Lorelei Parker

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I didn't like it.

As a gamer, I wanted to like it. But it bored me from the beginning and I finally gave up. Sierra was too freaking gullible and Tristan was an Ass. The author's writing was fine, I just couldn't get behind the characters.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*


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Snowed Under, by Mary Feliz

Snowed Under by Mary Feliz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 6 in the series.

Maggie and friends are always fun to hang out with for an afternoon.

Living in Colorado, I've been unfortunate enough to have to drive in similar circumstances to the opening of this book, so it had me literally on the edge of my seat. The book continued to hold my attention all the way to the end. It was a nice afternoon read.

My only reason for only giving it three stars is the number of characters. I spent way too much time trying to back track a bit and figure out who was who. I felt like I needed a flow chart to keep track of everyone.

I always look forward to the next book in the series.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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Killing Time, by Suzanne Trauth

Killing Time by Suzanne M. Trauth

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 6 in the series.

This is a fun series, about a collaboration between a restaurant and a community theatre. Dodie always ends up right in the middle of murder.

This one was a light, quick read, set at my favorite time of the year, Halloween. My only complaint about this one was that Dodie had more than the usual too stupid moments that got her quite banged up in the end.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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Breakfast at the Honeycreek Cafe, by Jodi Thomas

Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café by Jodi Thomas

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

First book in a new series.

This was the first book I've read by this author and it was an okay read. The town is the typical charming small town, but I felt like the author tackled too much in featuring 4 main characters and their stories. There didn't seem to be a lot of character growth, and frankly the plot lines were slooow for most of the book and then way too fast for some things. All the characters falling in love in a week felt like a stretch.

It's an okay book for a series start, I guess, but not anything special.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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Grave Consequences, by Lena Gregory

Grave Consequences by Lena Gregory

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 5 in the series.

After the previous book, I did go back and read the rest of the series, so I was happy to see this one listed on NetGalley.

Sadly, this one was kind of boring. The Whodunit was kind of obvious and the rest of the story filled with tedious details as filler. It took me several days to get my disinterest and to the last few chapters. In the end, it turned out to be an okay read, but nothing fantastic.

Less dog and people feeding, please, haha.

Still, I am looking forward to the next book.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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Murder in the Storybook Cottage, by Ellery Adams

Murder in the Storybook Cottage by Ellery Adams

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 5 in the series.

I enjoyed this one much more than the previous one. It's not nearly so over the top and out there, now that they're slowly supposed to be dismantling the collection. I still find the Edward storyline silly, but at least it's a bit minimized in this one.

All in all, I love the setting, the town, and the idea of the series, I'm just still a bit hesitant about the practice, haha.

Hoping this leads in to a bit more "normal" stories, instead of cozyish spy tales.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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Shredding the Evidence, by Daryl Wood Gerber

Shredding the Evidence by Daryl Wood Gerber

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, this one wasn't for me.

Book 9 in the series.

I wanted to like it. I've enjoyed previous books in the series. But this one was boring. The quirky characters I liked were just blah. And it felt a little mean. Like, fat shaming mean. I finally gave up on it and put it down 2/3 of the way through.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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A Bad Day for Sunshine, by Darynda Jones

A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 1 in a new series.

I originally really liked Darynda Jones' previous series (it started to go a bit too off the rails for me after several books, but that's another blog post), so when I saw she had a new series coming out I decided to request it.

I'm glad I did. I liked Sunshine immediately. Her relationship with her daughter is fun, but still mostly realistic and they're both sharp, capable females. In fact, this book has numerous independent, tough, funny, sexy, smart females and I loved that.

The plot kept me entertained and laughing out loud, while waiting to see what would happen next. I can't wait for the next book (And I really want Sunny to take that *itch of a blackmailing mayor down! You know it's coming, she threatened Sunny's daughter!).

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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The Immortal Conquistador, by Carrie Vaughn

The Immortal Conquistador by Carrie Vaughn

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 15 in the series, but not really, since it's a completely stand alone book about Rick the vampire.

It's also not really a cohesive novel, but more chunks of stories about Rick that have appeared elsewhere and been collected in one place and then filled out. As a result, it was an okay read, but nothing special. Mostly, it was just fun to be back in Ms. Vaughn's alternate reality.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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Berried in the Past, by Peg Cochran

Berried in the Past by Peg Cochran

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 5 in the series.

I liked this one a lot better than the previous one. The murder mystery was interesting and intrigued me. I always like a story within the story. It was a quick read.

There was much baking of cranberry goods, and I confess, I'm not a cranberry fan. The recipes hold no draw for me, but then, I've never made a recipe from a book that turned out as good as it sounded, so oh well, haha.

Altogether, this was a much better comeback for this series and I am looking forward to the next.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley*

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Death on the Page, by Essie Lang

Death on the Page by Essie Lang

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, It's a NO from me.

Book 2 in the series.

I struggled with book 1, and I struggled with the one as well. It just didn't hold my interest. I finally gave up on it a few chapters in. I did not finish and I give up on this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book received from the publisher, via Netgalley

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Murder in an Irish Cottage, by Carlene O'Connor

Murder in an Irish Cottage by Carlene O'Connor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I mostly liked it.

Book 5 in the series.

I'd read the first two books, and the novella in Christmas Cocoa Murder and man, there's a huge jump in relationships from 4.5 to book 5! To the point where I was a bit baffled, because I'm obviously missing a whole heck of a lot of the story.
[I mean, in 4.5 Mac and Siobhán aren't together, with Mac lurking around watching her in an almost creepy way, and here they are, engaged and setting a wedding date! (hide spoiler)]

The story itself was fun, and I enjoyed the mystery, but I really wish there'd been another book or at least another novella in between to explain how we got here, unless something else is explained in books 3 or 4. Anyway, I'm going to go back and read them, in case I missed something.

Do yourself a favor, and don't start here! There's a lot of characters to keep straight, and some back story that left me feeling a bit lost.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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The Book of Candlelight, by Ellery Adams

The Book of Candlelight by Ellery Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars, I LOVED it!

Book 3 in the series.

This is my favorite of the series so far! I loved the ladies of the Secret, Book & Scone Society, but I think adding Sheldon to the mix is wonderful. I absolutely adore him and his attitude even in the face of debilitating chronic pain. Even when he's "cranky," he's likable and easy to relate to. As in the previous books, Nora and her friends, are well fleshed out and interesting. They each have secrets and emotions and aren't always likable or smart because of that, just like real people.

I loved the touch of Native American folklore, and the storyline moved quickly. I devoured the book in one night, not wanting to put it down. I hope this series continues for many more books!

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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A View to a Kilt, by Kaitlyn Dunnett

A View to a Kilt by Kaitlyn Dunnett

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 13 in the series.

This one took me some time to get into, which is weird, because it started off with a bang, and had two of my favorite characters in it (Dandy and Dondi!). But it really just had a slow pace after that. And Liss' mother is annoying as all get out.

In the end, it all wrapped up nicely and it was an okay story.

I like this series, and I will continue to read it, but this one is definitely not one of my favorites.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.

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A Field Guide to Homicide, by Lynn Cahoon

A Field Guide to Homicide by Lynn Cahoon

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 6 in the series.

This one was not my favorite. I had a hard time getting in to it, and I found myself really not liking Seth for much of the book. And really, I am getting tired of Cat's ex being dragged in all the time. I thought we were finished with him.

Throw in all the food descriptions, eating and an over-use of dialog versus action, and the whole book was weak. As Elvis once said, "A little less conversation, a little more action, please."

Hopefully this book was just a fluke and the next one will be back to normal.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Mortal Music, by Ann Parker

Mortal Music by Ann Parker

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 7 in the series.

This is the first book I've read in the series, but it absolutely is a stand alone story. It's also not really a cozy mystery, but more of a historical mystery.

I'm a huge western history buff, so this was right up my alley. Yes, it's historical fiction, but Ms. Parker has obviously done her research on the area and time period.

Her main character is interesting and likable, intelligent and strong. The plot was full of twists and turns and now I really want to go back and read the previous books in the series!

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*



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Fatal Roots, by Sheila Connolly

Fatal Roots by Sheila Connolly

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 8 in the series.

I've enjoyed this series from the beginning, but this one just felt like the weakest of the lot. On one hand, it was nice to get to meet Maura's half sister, on the other hand, the mystery was kind of boring and the victim wasn't super likable and no one really seemed to care about him other than his gang-like family.

And the college student part of the plot kind of felt like half that story had been cut out, as we never really got an explanation of why the kid disappeared, or what he was doing when he was gone.

I still like the characters, and will continue to read the series, but please, finish the kitchen already! And if Ms. Connolly could bring back some of the music again, instead of just talking about it, that'd be good too.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Dead in Dublin, by Catie Murphy

Dead in Dublin by Catie Murphy

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 1 in a new series.

I wanted to love this book. It's by one of my favorite Urban Fantasy authors (C.E. Murphy), so when I saw it on NetGalley, I snapped it up.

For some reason, it just didn't hold my interest until about halfway in. I found myself putting it down and reading other things, a lot. In the end, it was okay. And I will definitely read the next in the series. In fact, with her Urban Shaman series, the books just got better and after the first one, so I am hoping for the same here.

The series has a lot going for it, interesting setting, a different career for the protagonist. And I liked Megan. I know some people were upset about a bit of cursing, but that doesn't bother me a bit.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Verse and Vengeance, by Amanda Flower

Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 4 in the series.

Thankfully, this book is a big improvement from the previous one in the series and actually kept my attention all the way through.

Emerson and Faulkner are, as always, a fun addition to the story, but I have to say, enough Walt Whitman! Dialogue can be a bit cheesy, but that's part of what makes it fun, haha.

All in all, the mystery was decent, and Violet and the magical bookshop are always fun to visit.


*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Potions are for Pushovers, by Tamara Berry

Potions Are for Pushovers by Tamara Berry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 2 in the series.

I loved this book as much as the first one in the series. The pace was quick and I read it in one sitting.

The entire cast of characters is a bit kooky. The main character, Eleanor, is not a physic at all, but previously pretended to be one to make a living and support her sister. Now, she creates herbal potions as the town witch. Despite the fact that at heart, Ellie is a con artist, she's still incredibly likable and funny.

She's also smart, independent and capable. And did I mention funny? I had several laugh out loud moments with this book.

Ellie seems to have found her place in the village in this book, settling in and making friends outside of the Hartford family.

I absolutely love this series and can't wait 'til the next one.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Cobblered to Death, by Rosemarie Ross

Cobblered to Death by Rosemarie Ross

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 1 in a new series.

The setting was interesting, but Courtney feels a bit one dimensional and the mystery was a bit blah, with most of the action happening at the very end. All in all, it's a decent first, but hopefully the author tightens things up a bit and develops Courtney a lot in the next book.

I'd like to read the next in the series, but it's not going to the top of my TBR pile just yet.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*


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Memories and Murder, by Lynn Cahoon

Memories and Murder by Lynn Cahoon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 10 in the series.

It was good to finally get a full length story in this series again, and one that answered the questions from the previous book. The novellas published in between all took place before book 9, and just left me annoyed that I still didn't know what was going on with Aunt Jackie!

This time I enjoyed my visit to South Cove, and the mysteries Jill decides to get involved in.

More full length books, please!

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Hounds of the Basket Stitch, by Anne Canadeo

Hounds of the Basket Stitch by Anne Canadeo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 11 in the series.

I love the Black Sheep Knitters, the characters are all well written and for the most part, realistic. The ladies and their friendship is really what brings me back to this series again and again.

There was a lot going on in this book, but it never felt overwhelming.

I do recommend you start at the beginning of the series, just because of the number of characters involved in the series, it might be easier to get to know them all from the start.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Read and Buried, by Eva Gates

Read and Buried by Eva Gates

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I didn't like it.

Book 6 in the series.

I loved this series, but honestly, I feel like the Lucy/Louise Jane drama has been overplayed. I've always been of the opinion that Louise Jane needs to fall down a well. She's become a major distraction from the story. There's not one single thing I can find to like about her, she's just flat out nasty. It'd be one thing if she were a minor player, but she's not.

Every time I think Louise Jane has hit the ultimate low, she does something worse in the next book.
It's to the point when LJ shows up I roll my eyes and put the book down for a bit. She makes Lucy look like a doormat, and I think I am done.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Late Checkout, by Carol J. Perry

Late Checkout by Carol J. Perry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 8 in the series.

It's always fun to visit Salem, Lee, O'Ryan and Aunt Ibby. This one was fun all the way to the end, though I felt like Lee's visions were kind of a waste of time this time.

I have to admit, though, I miss the pre-WICH-TV setting, when Lee was teaching reporting instead of actually doing the reporting. I will still look forward to the next book.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Beyond a Reaspnable Stout, by Ellie Alexander

Beyond a Reasonable Stout by Ellie Alexander

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, I didn't care for it.

Book 3 in the series.

When I realized this was the 3rd book in the series, I quickly got the first two from my library. I wasn't super enthused about this series once I started reading. I think that can easily be traced to the fact that I don't like beer at all. So despite living in an area very well known for its microbreweries, I just don't know much (or care to know much) about making beer. There's A LOT of detail about the craft, and it was just too much for me.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Christmas Cocoa Murder, by Carlene O'Connor, Maddie Day and Alex Erickson

Christmas Cocoa Murder by Carlene O'Connor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

I honestly got this book for the Maddie Day story. I enjoyed it very much. It's always fun to visit South Lick, IN and Robbie's Country Store.

The Carlene O'Connor story actually made me want to go back and read some more of her series. I'd only read the first few before this short story. Now I want to know more about Siobhán and her family, though the whole Macdara thing at the end was slightly baffling.

The most surprising story was Alex Erickson's. I've not been able to really get into his series, so the fact that I really liked this literally locked room mystery was a bonus, since I almost didn't even bother to read it!

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Fudge Bites, by Nancy CoCo

Fudge Bites by Nancy CoCo

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was just okay.

Book 7 in the series.

I was so looking forward to this book. Sadly, it didn't live up to my expectations. I couldn't stay interested for long, and ended up putting it down for different books multiple times. Some of the plot aspects seemed a little preposterous, and Allie spent too much time feeling sorry for herself.

My biggest complaint is still about the love triangle aspect of the story. It's old, and annoys the crud out of me. Seven books in and that should have been wrapped up.

I'm not sure if I would read another in the series at this point.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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A Cup of Holiday Fear, by Ellie Alexander

A Cup of Holiday Fear by Ellie Alexander

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it, mostly.

Book 10 in the series.

It's always nice to visit Ashland and Torte Bakery. Jules and the bakery gang are fun and likable. There seems to be more Christmas cheer than mystery in this book, with the murder occurring in between holiday happenings. Even with that, it still started off as one of the better books in the series, but kind of lost steam towards the end.

My biggest complaint about the series is the Jules/Carlos drama. I'd like to see that settled once and for all. As a result of the long, drawn out, relationship angst, I really can't give it more than 3 stars.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm, by Richard Estep and Robert Graves

The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm: Unraveling the History & Hauntings of a Serial Killer's Home by Richard Estep

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a combination of true crime book and ghost story and it's hard to say which bit was creepier, the parts that are 100% proven (the serial killer targeting gay males in Indiana) or recounting of the haunting of the home where the crimes are supposed to have occurred.

The book starts with the history of the home and the horrors of an alleged serial killer and his crimes. It then goes in to the story of the next owner of the property and finally, into the paranormal investigation of the property by Richard Estep and his team.

I found the entire book utterly fascinating and didn't want to put it down.

I received an uncorrected ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, and my biggest complaint is that the version I started to read had missing letters that made it annoying/hard to read. I finally borrowed the final version from my library, which didn't have the same issue. That's the only reason it took me so long to finish. I actually read the hard copy version in one sitting.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Last Pen Standing, by Vivian Conroy

Last Pen Standing by Vivian Conroy

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

First in the series.

This one just wasn't for me. I had a hard time connecting with the main character, and most of the other characters didn't really appeal to me either. I found myself putting this down often and reading other things instead. I finally skimmed to the end.


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All Hats on Deck, by Sandra Bretting

All Hats on Deck by Sandra Bretting

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book 5 in the series.

This is probably my favorite of the series. The main character is showing herself to be smart and kind-hearted. She feels a bit more grown up now, not so impetuous.

The mystery itself was interesting and the book stayed nicely paced. It kept me wanting to turn the page. So much so, that I read it in one sitting.

I enjoy this series and am looking forward to the next one.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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A Fatal Cajun Festival, by Ellen Byron

Fatal Cajun Festival: A Cajun Country Mystery by Ellen Byron

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it, but it's not my favorite.

5th in the series.

This time around it just felt like there were too many characters in the mix to keep track of and too much going on. It didn't have the charm of the previous books and Maggie really had some stupid moments.

I still enjoy the series and look forward to the next book.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Purrfect Magic, Samantha Coville

Purrfect Magic by Samantha Coville

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book one in the series.

This book was hard for me to read. The main character was very immature, selfish and entitled. I didn't much like her, or really any of the characters.

I have nothing against Y/A, I still love the Harry Potter series, and maybe I am judging this book too harshly by comparing the two. But I just can't get past the fact that Harper is so annoying and I kind of hate the fact that the kittens picked her to be the school's protector. By the end, she'd grown up a bit, but I still didn't like her.

The story was okay, but I don't think I will be revisiting the Jourdemayne Academy of Witchcraft.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Mulberry Mischief, by Sharon Farrow

Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 4 of the series.

I was glad to see this series saved. That said, this was not my favorite in the series. It was an okay read, but mostly because I could catch up with Marlee and her friends. And I could gloat a bit that the ex-fiance was out of the picture, since I never liked him, haha. But it was a slow read, and took me a while to get into. I ended up putting it down and reading something else for a bit. Things picked up about halfway through.

I am glad to see Marlee back, and would likely read the next book in the series.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Pride, Prejudice and Poison, by Elizabeth Blake

Pride, Prejudice and Poison by Elizabeth Blake

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

First in a new series, it was okay.

This started off kind of slow, which is sort of the be expected in the first of a series, as the author introduces all the main characters, but even expecting it a bit, I struggled to stay interested. Eventually things picked up and I started to get in to the story. There does need to be some better character development, as they all felt a bit one dimensional and only there to fill a certain type. Erin especially seems a bit dull.

And after a bit all the Austen quotes got old. Yes, it's the Jane Austen Society, but it started to feel slightly obsessive and annoying.

Also, after the slow build up, the end seemed a bit rushed.

All in all, I find the idea of the series interesting and I am willing to give the author some time to settle in, and hopefully flesh her characters out a bit more.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Desolate Shores, by Daryl Wood Gerber

Desolate Shores by Daryl Wood Gerber

My rating: 4 of 5 stars, I really liked it.

Book one in a new, non-cozy, series.

I love most of Daryl Wood Gerber's books, so I thought I would give this one a try. It's a good start. The plot was tight and kept me interested, in fact, I really didn't want to put it down.

This book is a little more intense than a cozy, but I didn't find it too much so. Really, it just seemed to have a fast paced plot that kind of kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next.

My only complaint is the mystery within the mystery, of Aspen's parents' murders. I am sure that will continue to pop up until eventually it becomes the focus. But for now it's mostly tucked into the background, so it wasn't too distracting.

I am looking forward to reading more of this series.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Claws for Action, by Linda Reilly

Claws of Action by Linda Reilly

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 4 in the series.

I didn't realize this was the newest in a series until I starting reading and decided I was missing a lot of back story. I ended up getting the previous three books from the library and reading them first. Do yourself a favor if you haven't read the previous books, don't start here.

It's an okay series. I like the main characters, Lara and Aunt Fran. They're both strong, smart characters. The ghost ragdoll cat is an interesting touch and I loved the rescue cats. I didn't have a lot of sympathy for the murder victim, she kind of deserved her fate.

All in all, I enjoyed the series and look forward to more.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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A Bias for Murder, by Sally Goldenbaum

A Bias for Murder by Sally Goldenbaum

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 3 in the series.

This book seems to have clicked for me. I liked it much more than the previous books, maybe because Po seems to have taken the lead a bit more. That said, there are soooo many characters that sometimes I have to stop and try to figure out who is who. That takes me out of the story a bit. Maybe they'll eventually all find their places in my head in future books.

The story was good and I enjoyed it, but I admit that I figured out who killed Oliver fairly early on.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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Peach Clobbered, by Anna Gerard

Peach Clobbered: A Georgia B&B Mystery by Anna Gerard

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

First in the series.

Thing I liked: Most of the characters, especially the nuns.
Thing I don't like: Are the nuns going to make an appearance in every book? Because at the moment I like them better than Nina. And I am not fond of Harry, and certainly not a fan of the Nina/Harry romance that's being set up.

The story is a bit light on detecting, mainly because Nina is actually busy running her B&B. Frankly, that makes a nice change, since most mystery main characters tend to abandon their businesses to snoop at the drop of a hat.

I liked this well enough that I look forward to the next book in the series to see how things develop.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, via NetGalley.*

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